OVHA Chat

I bottled my Irish Red Ale earlier in the week. I tried one last night, mild carbonation but not much flavor. How long would you guys think I should wait to try a second one?

Bottle condition for at least 2 to 3 weeks at 70º. If it's colder, it'll take longer, too cold and they may never.
Open 1 every several days and you will know when it's ready. If the sugar was keep stirred up well in the bottling bucket they will all be ready at the same time.
I have found that if they are sitting on a concrete floor, that will take away several degrees.
Put them up off of the cold floor helps, keep them as close to 70 as possible and drink one of our other brews.

And if I remember correctly lighter beers take longer than heaver beers.

I never seem to be able to wait very long, but two weeks at 70F is the rule of thumb. Ale yeasts tend to be pretty much dormant below 60F, and right now the basement isn't much warmer than that, so my last batch is still cloudy and flat.

Quick and dirty way to tell is to hold a bottle up to the light. If it's crystal clear, it's probably ready. If it's cloudy or only clear on top, the yeast is still busy and it will be flat and too sweet.

Peter

Here's a trick I've learned about bottle conditioning. When bottling, bottle a beer in a cleaned and sanitized clear plastic soda bottle. You will be able to judge carbonization levels by feeling how squishy the bottle sides are. You can see through the bottle to tell clarity. It will be the first bottle drank, so oxidation is minimized. But just like all beer keep away from light. No need to worry about the plastic bottle pressure. They handle way more than glass.

When bottling, bottle a beer in a cleaned and sanitized clear plastic soda bottle.

You will be able to judge carbonization levels by feeling how squishy the bottle sides are.

I have a few clear bottle that I use that way (Corona,Samuel Smith,etc.).Didn't think about plastic ones so I could tel by squeezing them.Thanks John.

The Irish Red Ale, I bottled back in Jan. that I am holding a few bottles back for this months meeting is really clear in the brown bottles I used, 3 months in the bottle. I may have to try one to find out.